Eyelet for shoes or the like.



No. 657,793. Patented Sept. ll, I900. F. l. SHADE 8,. M. B. FRY. EYELET FOR SHOES OR THE LIKE.

(Application filed Sept. 6, 1899.1

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Urtnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK I. SHADE AND MONTGOMERY B. FRY, OF LINFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA.

EYELET FOR SHOES OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,793, dated September 1 1, 1900. Application filed September 6, 1899. fierial No. 729,614. (No modclJ To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK I. SHADE and MONTGOMERY B. FRY, citizens of the United States, residing at Linfield, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Eyelets for Shoes or the Like, of which the followiu g is a specification.

Our invention relates to a new and useful improvement in eyelets for shoes and the like, and has for one of its objects to provide an exceedingly simple and effective device of this description which will permit the passage of a shoestring and present the appearance of a closed eyelet; and a further object of our invention is to so swivel the central portion of the eyelet as to provide for the turning thereof in any direction to accommodate the angle at which the shoestring is laced, and thus avoid the friction and wear upon the string which have heretofore been occasioned by the string being twisted and otherwise distorted when being drawn upon.

A still further object of our invention is the providing of a central raised portion to carry the string out of contact with the shoe, and thus avoid the chafing of the leather in the passage of the string from one eyelet to another.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a shoe, showing our improved eyelet applied thereto; Fig. 2, an enlarged view of an eyelet, shown as set in the leather or other material; and Fig. 3, a section thereof, illustrating the manner of securin g the eyelet in place and the turn-plu g within the hole.

In carrying out our invention as here embodied, A represents the eyelet, which may be formed in any suitable manner, so as to provide an upper flange B and the lower flange O, the latter being adapted to be turned outward and clen ch upon the material D, through which the eyelet is passed. This, as is obvious, will firmly secure the eyelet in place. A turn-plug E is made to fit within the eyelet so as to freely turn therein and is provided with an upperflange G,by which its position within the eyelet is determined, and is also provided with the lower flange H, adapted to be turned outward, so as to secure it in the eyelet after the manner of a rivet, and this securement is such as to permit the plug to freely turn upon itsaxis. AslotIis formedin the turn-plugand is of such dimensions as to readily receive a flat shoestring or the like without orowdingor twisting the same, so that when the string has been passed through the slot the plug and eyelet present the appearance of a closed eyelet. In practice this turn-plug will swing upon its axis and accommodate the shoestring at its angle, and it may be laced without in any wise crowding or chafing the stringas, for instance, should the string be laced straight across, as shown in the lower portion of the lacing in Fig. 1, the slot will stand approximately parallel to the opening in the shoe and at right angles to the string, or should the string be laced at an angle, as shown in the top eyelet of the same figure, the turnplug will adapt itself to this angle, so that the slot will also stand at right angles to the string and leave the latter in a fiat condition. The fact that the turn-plug is slightly elevated above the top of the eyelet will prevent the shoestring from chafing the leather, while at the same time permitting a limited movement of the string after being laced, so as to accommodate the movements of the foot in walking.

Of course we do not wish to be limited to the exactdetails of construction here shown nor to the use to which our improved eyelet may be put, as We desire to protect the same for whatever use it may be adapted. It is also obvious that instead of a slot being formed in the turn-plug a round hole may be formed therethrough when the device is to be used for round strings, such as corset-strings and the like.

Having thus fully described our invention, What we claim as new and useful is- 1. As a new article of manufacture, an eyelet for shoestrings and the like consisting of the eyelet proper having flanges for clam ping the material, and a turn-plug fitted therein so as to freely revolve, said plug having a hole formed therein for the passage of the string and flanges on the plug for engaging the eyelet, as specified.

2. In combination, an eyelet having flanges for clamping the material, and a plug fitted within the eyelet so as to freely turn, said plug having a slot for the passage of a flat string and flanges on the plug for engaging the eyelet, as specified.

8.- In combination, an eyelet having an upper flange for hearing against the upper surface of the material into which it is to be fastened, a. lower flange for clenching upon the under side of the material, a plug fitted to turn Within the eyelet and having a slot formed therethrough, a flange formed upon the upper end of the plug, and a flange formed upon the lower edge of the plug for securing it within the eyelet, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK I. SHADE. MONTGOMERY B. FRY.

Witnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON, JOHN BLACKBURN. 

